Plimpton's, A Tradition In West Hartford, To Close As Owners Retire

WEST HARTFORD —Dan and Mary Zuckerman say that preparing to close Plimpton's, their long-running business, has been bittersweet.

"It's hard to walk away from something you have this much history with and attachment to," Dan Zuckerman said in the couple's shared basement office, where they work side by side.

But "we've been hearing a lot of positive feedback," from loyal customers, Mary Zuckerman said. To those customers, the couple gives "a hearty thank you," for "the positive relationships we've had over the years. That's really been the fun part, is the interactions," she said.

Dan Zuckerman, 59, said there's no specific reason why he's decided to retire after owning Plimpton's for 21 years. The holiday season will provide ample opportunity to liquidate the store's remaining stock, including all of the display fixtures, and their last day will be December 27. Dan said there are no plans to sell the business or keep Plimpton's open, and it's unclear what sort of new business will take over the lease for the space at 991 Farmington Avenue.

Founded in Hartford in 1865 as an office supply company, Plimpton's expanded to several locations in the region before scaling back to one West Hartford location. Dan Zuckerman said the business was an original tenant in its current building and has been there since 1938.

He said he worked for his father's office supply store, Cobbs in Hamden, before buying Plimpton's. The advent of Staples and Internet-based office supply companies prompted the business to evolve into a social stationer and add fine luggage and other products.

West Hartford has been "a great shopping area over the years," Dan Zuckerman said. "We have a lot of niches and that's what supported the business."

Customers, many of which predated him, would return year after year for writing instruments, notebooks, cards, gifts and travel items.

"I think, eventually, Staples became a nonfactor because we became so different," Dan Zuckerman said. "A lot of people sought us out for very specific things."

While most people now communicate using computers and smartphones, the special touch of a handwritten card is still something to treasure.

Some of the items Plimpton's has kept in stock, including specialized fountain pen refills and quality greeting cards, will be greatly missed by customers.

"There isn't another outlet. There really is no place to go," Mary Zuckerman said.

While the couple will, "both miss it tremendously," she said, they are looking forward to taking some time off to travel and relax. The couple's two children, Amy and Andrew, have worked in the business off and on, as well, but are now adults pursuing their own careers. Dan Zuckerman said he feels fortunate that he and his wife are in a position to retire.

Customer Jane Shaskan said she's been coming to Plimptons' for decades, and wanted to stop in before they closed.

"There's a lot of nostalgia involved, I think, with Plimpton's," Shaskan said. "It was the place to go for really nice cards ... everything they sell is really high quality."

Shaskan said that even small things, like corner tabs for framing photos, were worth the trip to Plimpton's because they were better made than chain store items.

"There's so many things in there that are so unusual and hard to find," Shaskan said. "I'll miss it."